12th Edition

Resource efficiency

EPA

Today we face potential shortages of food, water, fuel, timber and critical materials. Historical events have been driven by drought, famine and climate events, and continue to be. Our current wasteful use of the limited available resources cannot be sustained.

Contains the full lesson along with a supporting toolkit, including teachers’ notes.

Lesson excerpt

Resource efficiency
Human intelligence allowed the development of civilisations. Knowledge grew and people developed an ability to exploit the environment in a way denied to other species. Economies developed according to a linear model where resources were obtained, products were manufactured and were ultimately disposed of. The supply of resources seemed limitless while the human population was small.

Today we face potential shortages of food, water, fuel, timber and critical materials. Historical events have been driven by drought, famine and climate events, and continue to be. Our current wasteful use of the limited available resources cannot be sustained.

Travelling to Mars
In recent years there has been much publicity about a proposed manned mission to Mars. It would be a one-way trip, mainly because it would be virtually impossible to bring along a second rocket large enough to make the return journey.

The outward journey would take several years during which the astronauts would need food, water and oxygen. The only realistic way the crew could get these essentials would be to recycle them. They would need to grow the necessary food and recycle all waste. With only a limited amount of materials they could not afford to waste anything.

Spaceship Earth
The Earth is a somewhat larger spaceship. It travels around the Sun at a speed of almost 30 kilometres per second! (You can easily work this out.) The supply of resources such as food, water, fuel and minerals is not limitless. We are already running out of certain materials and fossil fuels and as a result there is a growing realisation that we need to use the available resources more efficiently and sustainably.

True or False?

New skills and technologies will be needed to properly embrace the circular economy.
true

Using wind as an energy source involves no environmental degradation.
false

Miniature electronic components are easy to repair and recycle.
false

Rainwater harvesting is a very recent invention.
false

Whether a material is critical or not depends on a combination of factors.
true

It is possible for renewable food sources to be over-exploited.
true

Large amounts of plastic have got into the oceans.
true

Worldwide, less material went to landfill in 2016 than 10 years previously.
false

Communities around the world have suffered from water shortages.
true

Deforestation has no environmental or economic consequences.
false

Glossary of terms

drip irrigation

an irrigation system in which pipes bring a trickle of water to the roots of plants

methane

CH4; a chemical compound made up of carbon and hydrogen; used as a fuel; the main component of natural gas; also produced as a by-product of anaerobic sewage treatment

biogas

methane produced by the decomposition of biological material (biomass) such as animal slurry

biodiversity

the number and variety of organisms found within a specified geographic region

hydroponics

The process of growing plants in water supplied with nutrients, but without soil

biomass

typically, material of biological origin that can be used directly or indirectly as a fuel

sustainable

using a resource that can be renewed

biological nutrients

substances that provide living organisms with materials necessary for energy and general living processes

circular economy

an economy in which all materials are recycled

cloud

refers to online computer resources

companion planting

planting of different crops in neighbouring rows or patches for better pest control, pollination, biodiversity, use of space etc.

critical materials

materials that are not readily available but are necessary for the economy

European Nitrate Directive

an EU directive to improve water courses by limiting the amount of nitrate run-off

About

Science and Technology in Action (STA) is designed to support the teaching and learning of science and related subjects.

Each annual edition of STA contains a set of lessons that are industry led to be used by all teachers in second level schools. These lessons are available on this website and can be downloaded in a pdf format along with their supporting materials.

A hard copy is usually sent out for free to all second level schools each school year.

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Science and Technology in Action (STA) is proudly supported and partnered by some of Ireland’s leading organisations and is produced in close cooperation with the support services of the Department of Education and Skills and the Irish Science Teachers Association (ISTA).